REPORT OF THE STATISTICIAN. 595 
The afternoon sessions were mainly occupied with the reading of 
previously-prepared papers and discussions of their subject-matter 
by members. The principal of these were: 
Dr. Ernst Engel : Consumption as a measure of the welfare of in- 
dividuals, families. and nations. ; 
M. Charles Keleti: Upon the food-supply of the Hungarian people. 
M. Cheysson : Forms for a monographie datelier. 
Dr. Neumann-Spallart : Upon a better method of appreciating the 
social and economic state of a country at a given epoch. 
_ M. Luzzatti: The difficulties which oppose the establishment of a 
statistical comparison of the debts of states, 
Dr. Inama-Sternegg: The means of developing historical statistics. 
M. Emile Lavasseur: Study of the condition and movement of pop- 
ulation in France in the eighteenth century. 
M. Charles Ferraris; Examination of the peculiar difficulties of 
. tracing the movement of the precious metals in international com- 
merce. 
Dr. Leon Vacherz The diminution of mortality and increase of the 
average length of life in Europe. 
M. Kiaer: On the fecundity of marriages. 
Dr. Broch: On the consumption in Europe of modern stimulants— 
alcohol, coffee, tea, cocao, sugar, and tobacco—and on the receipts of 
states for imports levied thereon. 
TRANSPORTATION RATES. 
‘In complying with the requirements of Congress, through and local 
rates of freight have been published in each monthly statistical report 
of this Department during the past year, showing the cost of trans- 
portation of all principal products of agriculture from the principal 
points of inp ae in all parts of the country to large market centers; 
also tables of transatlantic rates over several of the more important 
steam-ship lines. All of the rates published are those in operation 
upon the first day of each month, and do not show the changes made 
between the reports. 
By carefully analyzing these rates, using those from Chicago to 
New York, as they are the basis of all rates over any of the trunk 
lines from points east to New York, it will be seen that they varied 
very little during the year, with the exception of the last month, 
when the rates upon live stock and dressed meats were greatly re- 
duced, and fluctuated from 3 to 5cents a day for several days, owing 
to a disagreement between the American lines and the Grand Trunk 
Road as to the rates upon exports and dressed meats. 
January 1, 1887, the rates on cattle in car-load lots were reported 
at 35 cents per 100 pounds, Chicago to New York, and continued the 
same until December 1, when they were reported at 164 cents. 
Sheep, car-load, were reported at 45 cents, January 1; dropped to 
40 cents May 1, and December 1 to 19 cents. Hogs were 35 cents to 
July 1 and 30 the remainder of the year. Grain and flour began 
with 30 cents, and from May'1 continued at 25 cents. Lard and pork 
- opened at 35 cents, and from May 1 continued at 30 cents. Dressed 
beef continued at 65 cents from January to December, when it was 
reported at 31 cents. As a means of comparison the following table 
is presented, showing the rates per 100 pounds from Chicago to New 
